Fact Check: "Zero illegal border crossings in June"
What We Know
The claim that there were "zero illegal border crossings in June" is inaccurate. According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), June 2023 saw a significant number of encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border. Specifically, the CBP reported that there were approximately 169,000 encounters in June 2023, which was a notable drop from previous months but certainly not zero (source-1).
Moreover, the data indicates that while there was a decrease in encounters compared to the peak months, the number of illegal crossings remained substantial. In fact, the CBP recorded a total of 2.4 million encounters throughout the fiscal year 2023, indicating a persistent issue with illegal crossings (source-1).
Analysis
The assertion of "zero illegal border crossings" in June appears to stem from a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the data. The CBP's statistics clearly indicate that there were significant encounters with individuals attempting to cross the border illegally. The claim is further contradicted by the fact that the number of encounters in June was celebrated by the Biden administration as a temporary reduction following the end of Title 42, which had previously allowed for expedited expulsions of migrants (source-1).
Additionally, the reliability of the sources reporting this claim varies. The House Committee on Homeland Security's factsheet is a government source that provides detailed statistics from the CBP, making it a credible source for border crossing data. In contrast, claims from sources like the New York Post may reflect a particular political bias and should be interpreted with caution (source-2).
Conclusion
The claim that there were "zero illegal border crossings in June" is False. The data from the CBP clearly shows that there were substantial encounters with individuals attempting to cross the border illegally during that month. The assertion misrepresents the actual statistics and overlooks the ongoing challenges related to border security.
Sources
- FACTSHEET: Final FY23 Numbers Show Worst Year at America's Borders—Ever
- Border Patrol Didn't Release a Single Illegal into the U.S. Last Month
- Southwest Land Border Encounters
- Border Crossing Data Annual Release: 2023 - 2024
- CBP Releases June 2023 Monthly Update
- ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics
- Stats and Summaries | U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- CBP Releases May 2025 Monthly Update - U.S. Customs and Border Protection